Smart Business Magazine, December 2017

INSIGHTS ENTERTAINMENT SERVICES Everything matters How to send a strong message through events W hether the purpose of an event is to strengthen the company brand or deliver a message from the internal team every detail of the event must be handled with care The signage décor centerpieces handouts and every other element of the event is a reflection of the companys ability and reinforces its approach to business Smart Business spoke with Matt Radicelli founder and CEO of Rock The House Audio Visual about strengthening an image and conveying purpose with events What purpose do events serve for the companies that host them Companies host events for a number of reasons There are upload events geared toward employees during which a company collects insight from its team members or download events in which the CEO makes a statement to everyone There are also state of the union meetings that involve a combination of upload and download meetings with a message from leadership followed by an opportunity for employees to give feedback or ask questions For profit meetings provide a revenue stream and emphasize the company brand Lunch and learns are a common form of for profit meetings in which a target group is invited to a free seminar thats capped by an informative presentation Where should companies put their emphasis if their goal is to strengthen their image Much of an event is about presentation signage color scheme service food the layout and flow of the room However the touchpoints before and after an event are just as critical 76 Smart Business Cleveland December 2017 FOLLOW UP If youre new to events and want to talk about a pre flight checklist call Matt or a Rock The House rock star The impression guests have of an event begins when they first hear about the event and ends the moment they stop thinking about it whether that be the day after the event or weeks later Companies should be mindful to create registration and informational emails that are consistent with the brands standards and leave guests with a cohesive and positive impression Companies can also build value into an event by creating actionable takeaways Guests whether employees or potential clients should never feel as if they wasted their time attending an event One way to reinforce a message may be by offering a branded flash drive to guests that provides useful information that emphasizes the key takeaways of an event and or brand When should an events production company be brought in to help with an event Whether or not outside help is needed often comes down to the ability of a company If a company has the same meeting every month theres a case to be made for purchasing the necessary equipment for those monthly meetings but only if it can be easily stored and maintained Similarly a company could rent equipment if it has an internal person who can operate it and troubleshoot problems On the other hand for smaller companies with less time and limited technical abilities it makes sense to seek outside help There are companies that can simply assist with audio visual setup or can serve as a full time consultant to help with all aspects of an event How can companies learn whether their event had the effect they were hoping to achieve CEOs tend to have a clear vision of what they want to happen at an event Often its their gut that tells them whether a message was delivered and received as they had envisioned For every event CEOs must access the ability of the team to set expectations vocalize goals and targets and make sure everyone involved has their assignment It is crucial to determine upfront what needs to be accomplished This may range from basic presentation elements such as clear lines of sight and crisp audio to organizational goals such as number of leads generated or introductions made Regardless of the intent its critical to plan ahead and be very clear on whats to be accomplished Each event must have a purpose and that must be identified by the host If a company finds itself struggling to achieve its goals its likely time to bring in professionals to assist MATT RADICELLI Founder CEO Rock The House Audio Visual 440 232 7625 matt radicelli@ rthav com Insights Entertainment Services is brought to you by Rock The House INTERVIEWED BY ADAM BURROUGHS

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